Richmond-Ferry Roundabout
Would you believe that this beautiful and functional roundabout was removed sometime back between 1930s and 1950s? For years (after it was removed) there was a traffic light that acted as directionless traffic cop. It was a time when speeding down Richmond and Ferry was commonplace. It was a time that saw disinvestment into the West Side of the city. As went the roundabouts, so went the neighborhood. To think that this was part of an Olmsted designed parkway system.
A few years ago the roundabout was finally restored, thus giving a sense of place back to the neighborhood. Since that time, Richmond has been on the rebound, almost as if the gesture was a rallying cry for the West Side. Traffic has slowed, Olmsted Zone Gardeners are back taking care of the green space, the reproduced light standard looks stunning, and you will notice that many of the surrounding houses have new paint jobs.
Even the formerly abandoned Richmond Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, which sits on the circle, is getting a new owner. It will soon be the home of the Upper West Arts Center.
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